EL UNIVERSAL
 
Colombia on Monday established a deadline, until next December, to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's mediation efforts for the rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) to release a number of hostages in exchange for the liberation of guerrilla troops who are in jail.

Colombian "President (Álvaro) Uribe told President Chávez that this process of mediation should have a time limit, and President Chávez agreed. Today, the government thinks the limit should be next December," the Colombian government said in a communiqué read by the High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo, as quoted by Reuters.

Ruling adjourned
A federal judge in the United States suspended for indefinite time a ruling on Simón Trinidad, a leader of the FARC, that was scheduled for Tuesday. Judge Royce C. Lamberth, of the District of Columbia, said the hearing was adjourned "until further notice by the court," AP reported.

Lamberth would not elaborate on this decision, but court sources claimed the decision was made following a request from the prosecution and the defense lawyers, amidst concerns about the fate of the civil and military hostages held by the FARC.

The ruling could have facilitated or complicated the efforts -lead by President Chávez- aimed at a humanitarian swap of hostages for FARC fighters who have been arrested by the Colombian government. Trinidad is waiting for a ruling in connection with the kidnapping of three US nationals in Colombia some five years ago.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
msuarez@eluniversal.com